145.022 Transitional

Produced in 1968 and early 1969

(This page has been updated May 2017)

This is marked -68 in the back. ( I have seen -69 in a watch having all the other Transitional characteristics, but not confirmed as original) . All the ones I have actually held have -68 in the back. I would expect to see -68 in a transitional.

These are worth more than the much more common painted logo 145.022-69. They are very rare, and when one comes on auction there are many buyers. Prices are higher, but there are so few traded that pricing them is not easy to be precise. If you look with $6000 (May 2017) in mind, you could go up or down from there, but it is essential it carries all the Transitional elements.

As always the value depends on the condition, but the DO90 bezel it carries is becoming so valuable, that valuing the watch involves valuing the bezel. Recent prices for top, flawless bezels have reached $5000, which can be more than half the value suggested for this reference. Do not forget very few bezels are that much.

These early calibre 861’s carried a dial with a similar design to the 145.012. The dials have an applied metal Omega logo, and long hour indices. The dials look the same as the one fitted to the 145.012, but they have different size feet, although in the same position. If it does not have this dial, it cannot be a “Transitional.”

145.022-68 with slightly brown dial. Note the DO90 bezel and square end chrono hand.145.022-68 Transitional. This one has the square end spear chrono hand. It is known they were fitted to 145.012’s so I believe this is correct. Note the long indices on the dial and the applied logo that gives this reference it’s special appeal.

The word “Transitional” here is used to describe this specific reference. It is the transition between the 145.012 and the painted logo dial, 145.022-69.

Confusingly the word is often used as an adjective elsewhere – for example when discussing the straight engraving case back, and even when discussing the 105.002 – as a “transition” between the 2998-62 and the 105.003. When used here as a noun, the term Transitionaldescribes a 145.022-68 with the following attributes:

Applied Metal Logo Dial with long indices

Low serial number calibre 861 (26m to 27m)

Date stamped -68 in the case back.

Dot Over 90 Bezel

Spear or square end Chrono hand

I have see a Transitionals with -69 stamped in the back. I now believe that if a watch has the rest of the characteristics, including the serial, then if it has a -69 back it has the incorrect back.